And here are some additional thoughts on this topic…
Long term, sustainable increases in customer loyalty require trusting relationships between customer and companies. As a customer, I’ll keep doing business with you if I believe your goal is to help me. The more I trust you, the easier it is for me to believe you’re in business to help. The two go together like chocolate and peanut butter.
And here are some additional thoughts on this topic…
In the world of customer service, you need to get better or you’ll fall behind. The Disney organization is well known as a model of quality customer service. And yet they constantly train and focus on how to improve the service they offer their customers. One reason they do this is because they understand the quality of customer service is relative to what customers expect. As you deliver better service, your customers get accustomed to it. They expect it. So you need to improve or they’ll feel your service level has declined.
And here are some additional thoughts on this topic…
Do any of these sound familiar?
The doctor’s office that makes you present an insurance card every time you are there even though the information is the same. The insurance agent who insists you meet in person at their office. The contractor who says “I’ll be there between 8am and 4 pm” and is still late. The restaurant hostess who will not seat you until all the people in your group have arrived. The salesman who only talks about his products and never asks you what you’re trying to accomplish. The company website that has no phone numbers or emails to contact them.
And here are some additional thoughts on this topic…
We’ve all dealt with people and companies that try to sell us what they want us to buy. They try to fit our need to their solution. They send us away with no help if what we want is something they cannot quickly and easily do. Their entire focus is on what they want to accomplish. They are not delivering customer service. They are only serving themselves and their company.
One of the best ways to keep your customers coming back and get more referrals is to give your customers a great experience. And that’s true even when your customers aren’t human.
When I watch this video, not only would I want our dog to be a “customer”, I want to go there too! If you like dogs you’ll love this video. It doesn’t tell you the experience this doggy daycare business provides. It shows you. And it does so brilliantly.
Jay Leno and I both enjoy Subway. While I can’t speak for Jay, I can tell you why I like it. They offer relatively healthy food fast and at a fair price. And, usually you get the same experience no matter where you are.The Subway in Montgomeryville, PA offers the same basic experience as the one in LaJolla, CA.
There is value in this. It brings familiarity and comfort to people. It’s nice to know what to expect and then get it, whether you’re at home or 1,000 miles away. And if you get a little more than you want and expect, the odds are you’ll go back and you’ll tell others about it. The consistency will build loyalty. That loyalty can reinforce the quality and consistency. It becomes a virtuous circle.
This Saturday, June 27, you can hear the Amazing Service Guy on live radio in the Twin Cities. I’ll be a guest on Mark Kozlak’s show, Calling for Color. The show is on Saturday morning from 9:00 to 9: 30 am on KLBB Radio 1220 AM.
When a company makes a mistake, it can be the brightest moment in their history.
Toyota had that opportunity. But they missed their moment. Big time.
How a company reacts, removes the pain, and repairs the emotional connection shows the true colors of that organization more than almost any situation they might encounter.
Customer service is the new marketing because now companies can no longer control what people are saying about them. Everyday, customers and prospects are ranting and raving about your company on social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Companies that don’t get customer service and don’t react to what customers are talking about are doomed to fail.
This may be it. This may be the year that it finally happens. 2010 may just be the year that companies start to focus on their customers and serving them well.
Now, I am cautiously optimistic about this focus on customer service, but let me tell you why I feel this way.
1. Brands are using a focus on customers as a competitive differentiator in their advertisements.
Now you can improve customer service and save money.
Our new Trainer's Toolkit enables you to conduct a professional customer service seminar in your organization at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional trainer. Click here to learn more.